Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-05-20
HENRY GEORGES THEORY.

In another column of this paper will be
seen a communication from Ballinger
quoting and criticising an excerpt from
THE GAZETTE relative to the theories adj
yanced by Henry George. Our CORE
spondent takes issue with THE GAZETTE
on several points, the more salient of
which we will notice. 1t is denied that
Henry George seeks "to divide the land
of those who have it with those who have
it not" The only basis for this denial is
in the choice OF terms. Henry George
proposes "taXing all land to It's full rem
tai value" Sc. And for what purpose?
In order that people who hold land as a
property to transmit to their chill
dren, or for other purposes, will
be taxed so heavily that, unless
they actually till the soil themselves, they
must surrender it to the commonwealth
or dispose of it to some practical agri-
culturist who can till it and pay the
taxes On it. It is asseverated by Mr..
George that private ownership in land is
pernicious, inasmuch as it enables some
men to "withhold it from normal use"
for speculative purposes His ideas of
taxation are candidly stated, to be sure,
and the object of this taxation is to make
it impracticsble for any but the actual
tillers to pay the rent. Now, there are
many persons owning vast tracts of land
who are not tillers of the soil. There are
many persons who would till the soil if
they had control of it. Therefore, we
submit this syllogism: Taxation as pro-
posed by Mr.. George will compel all non
agricultural land owners to surrender
their lands to the state; it will enable
Gin theory, at least,) all pra ctiCal agri-
culturists, who have no lands at present,
to rent from the state; hence, the posi-
ton of THE GAZETTE is correct 1t will
"divide the land of those who have it
with those who have it not" and GER
tainly Mr.. George is anxious to carry out |
his theory. Now, why should man who
has invested, in a perfectly legal
manner, the earnings of q life time
in q piece of land, be deprived of
his property? Would it not be as just |
and reasonable to expect the great |
apostle of this theory to divide his S75
q night with that society of which he |
processes to be so fond, and in this way
teach US by example as well as by precept |
the beauties of his creed, SIS to compel a |
man who has invested his money in land |
to surrender it to the public good. THE
GAZETTE believes that the product of a |
mans brain or muscle is his own. It |
esteems Mr.. George as one of the boldest, !
most original and foremost thinkers of
his day; gentleman whose startling |
theories, profound research and perfect
mastery of logic have attracted the stten-
ton of the philosophers of both hemi-
spheres; his services are doubtless well |
worth S75 night to an audience, il they |
think so, but his cherished theories are
utopian, aud can never be rendered prac-
ticable. The true test of the beneAcence
of all theories depends largely upon the
degree of their present adaptability. What
is impossible is useless, and its discussion
q loss of time. Dispositions long and
learned, il analytic and discursiye, may
enlarge the understanding and please the
senses, but it is the synthetic and intui-
tive mind that leads the world and that
the world follows; not because of q su-
periority of theory, but because of a con-
else, palpsble definiteness of object which
the average mind can see at glance and
the average understanding can compre
bend without the aid or Intervention of
argument. The history of the world is
the history of men of genius living
and dying for opinions, the value
Of which the world refused to ad
nit until centuries afterwards, and It may
be that Mr.. George is one Of them.
Years, not far distant, may witness an
anamorphosis, whea tbs earth
and those who dwell therein vii see sn;5